Chapter 71: The Next Step—Farming!

Although Wei Renshi had explained that selling liquor was the main business, Dream Pavilion had only been open for a month. Though business appeared to be thriving, in truth it was somewhat hollow at its core. It still needed to leverage the exclusive advantage of Wei’s white liquor to truly gain a foothold in Luoyang. Only after Dream Pavilion was firmly established would the white liquor be sold to outsiders.

Wei Renshi outlined his plans for the future to Sun Peng, instructing him to keep an eye on the movements of other large taverns and eateries in Luoyang, while he himself, accompanied by Xi’er, Old Man Sun, Sun Youqing, and Sun Youquan, returned to Changgu.

The villagers treated him with even greater respect than before. Where once he was called “Little Master Wei” as if he were just a neighbor’s child, he was later addressed politely as “Master Wei,” and now their tone had shifted from mere politeness to genuine reverence. Yet Wei Renshi remained approachable, still calling everyone uncle or aunt as he had always done.

The Dowager Lady, having returned with those villagers who had attended the grand opening, was already back in Changgu. She preferred the tranquility of the countryside to the bustle of Luoyang.

The distillery business was finding its rhythm; Old Man Sun oversaw the brewing, and Sun Peng managed Dream Pavilion in Luoyang. Wei Renshi could now relax, turning his attention back to the land and dedicating himself to farming.

After paying his respects to the Dowager Lady at home and presenting the gifts he had brought from Luoyang, Wei Renshi set out for the home of the village chief, Zheng.

When he arrived, Chief Zheng had just returned from the fields and was about to wash his hands. Seeing Wei Renshi, he smiled and asked, “Why have you returned, Master Wei?”

Wei Renshi replied with a smile, “Didn’t I tell you in Luoyang? I’ve come back to farm.”

“You truly mean to farm?” Chief Zheng asked. “Are you planning to deal with those wastelands?”

Wei Renshi nodded. “Not just that. If it were only to improve those barren fields, I wouldn’t need to make a special trip back. I have three things I want to accomplish—one can be done this year, another will have to wait until next year, and the third, I fear, will take a very long time; I’ll only be able to lay the groundwork.”

“Oh?” Chief Zheng was surprised by this.

Wei Renshi did not elaborate, but instead asked, “Uncle Zheng, do you know where I can have straw mats and straw covers made?”

“Many places can make them,” replied Chief Zheng. “The Xing family in Upper Village does good work and is the nearest.”

Wei Renshi made a mental note and chatted with Chief Zheng for a while before returning home.

The next morning, Wei Renshi set out for Upper Village. It was easy to find the Xing family that Chief Zheng had mentioned. Their courtyard was fenced with wicker, allowing a clear view inside. Piles of thatch filled the yard, along with straw mats laid out to dry in the sun. Several women were weaving new straw covers, and two young children tumbled about on the dry grass, playing.

Wei Renshi knocked on the gate and called out to the women inside, “I’d like to order some straw covers and straw mats.”

One of the women rose, opened the gate, and invited him in. She looked him up and down, then asked, “Young master, what kind of straw covers do you need?”

Wei Renshi noticed a straw mat drying on the ground. He stepped forward to feel and weigh it, finding it tightly and sturdily woven. Pointing to it, he asked, “Can you make straw covers and mats of this length and size, but twice as thick?”

The woman examined it thoughtfully, then nodded. “Yes, we can make them.”

Wei Renshi straightened up. “Then I’ll need three hundred.”

The woman was stunned, momentarily speechless. “How many, young master?!”

“Three hundred,” Wei Renshi repeated. “If the quality is good, I’ll order even more in the future.”

At this, the other women in the background stopped their work in surprise, all rising to their feet.

“I am Wei Renshi of Changgu,” he explained. “If you’re concerned, I can pay a deposit now. But I need the straw covers and mats to be tightly and finely woven.”

“This... three hundred... that’s no small number. I’ll have to discuss it with the head of the family,” the woman hesitated. “I’ve never sold so many before!”

Wei Renshi nodded. “Very well, but I need them urgently. If there’s too much delay, I’ll have to find someone else. If you decide to accept, come find me in Changgu. Do you know the village chief there?”

“Chief Zheng?” the woman asked.

“Yes. If you decide, go to Changgu and find him; he’ll bring you to me,” Wei Renshi affirmed. Since the villages were neighboring, they would surely know each other.

The three hundred straw covers and mats were intended for a single greenhouse.

Without plastic sheeting, straw covers and mats alone could not guarantee warmth. The only way to retain more heat was to increase the layers’ thickness. In the modern age, Wei Renshi had seen double-layered greenhouses—one built inside another—so he intended to follow this example. He would first build a large greenhouse, and inside it, a smaller one. With thickened straw covers and mats, he hoped it would suffice for insulation.

This would reduce light penetration, but at least the temperature could be maintained.

By his calculations, his own fields could accommodate two greenhouses. The wastelands still needed further improvement before they could be cultivated. With enough effort this year, perhaps some of the less infertile plots could be ready for spring planting next year.

Once the greenhouses were built in his own fields, he could plant immediately, and if all went well, harvest a crop of leafy greens even this winter.

If he were planting only to feed himself, it would seem a rather humble pursuit for someone with knowledge of the future. But since he was running a distillery, he needed to guarantee a supply of grain. Even though he had partnered with grain merchants, he needed an emergency reserve of his own.

Wei Renshi had returned to Changgu to build greenhouses, reclaim land, and experiment with improving the wastelands—turning them, through reclamation and greenhouses, into productive fields.

With the greenhouses, he could harvest vegetables during the cold season, improving his own life and creating extra value. He could even perform simple breeding experiments indoors to increase yield and quality.

These were the three goals that had brought Wei Renshi back to farming.

Of the three, the greenhouse was the easiest to realize. Though it could not compare to true modern greenhouses, it would still create advantageous conditions.

The hardest, of course, was breeding. Wei Renshi only knew how to select the best seedlings from a batch and transplant them together, as well as a few other basic methods—this part would depend largely on luck.